Apparent suicides slow rush-hour traffic on H-1
Ewa-bound traffic on the H-1 freeway was paralyzed for several hours during this morning's rush hour when a man and a woman, in two different areas, apparently jumped to their deaths from overpasses.Police do not know if there is any connection between the 51-year-old man and the unidentified woman.
The man jumped from the Halawa overpass onto the freeway at 5:10 a.m., police said. He was found on the Halawa on-ramp. His injuries were consistent with a fall, police said.
About 10 minutes later, a woman jumped from the Kaahumanu Street overpass, police said. She was struck and run over by several cars, police said.
Traffic was diverted to the shoulder of the freeway while police investigated. The lanes reopened at 9:05 a.m.
The gridlock also slowed emergency crews. It took 15 minutes for a fire engine from Aiea to get to the Kaahumanu Street scene. Normal travel time is less than five minutes.
"We couldn't get onto the freeway," said acting Fire Capt. Alan Calhoun. "We couldn't get past that scene (at Halawa)."
Calhoun and his crew had to take another route, then drive town-bound in the Ewa lanes to get there. Town-bound traffic was slowed only by curious drivers, said police and state transportation officials.
Barbers Point crew aids search for fisher
A Coast Guard C-130 from Barbers Point is helping search for a fisherman missing since 11 p.m. Tuesday in waters off Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands.The missing man, 33, apparently fell off the fishing boat Shinpukumanu No. 8 about 257 miles northeast of Kwajalein, which is about 1,870 miles southwest of the Hawaiian Islands.
Post offices to expand weekend availability
Weekend post office hours in various schedules will be expanded starting Saturday at the airport, Makiki, Waikiki, Waialae, Kahala, Kapolei, Mililani, Ewa Beach, Waipahu, Aiea, Kamuela, Kihei and Lahaina. This is to honor requests of customers gathered in surveys, the Postal Service said.
Activities next month to help asthmatics
Asthma education and fitness activities for asthmatics take place next month at the Honolulu Club, sponsored by the American Lung Association of Hawaii, Queen's Physician Group and Honolulu Club.Asthma Aqua Aerobics, June 22 and June 24, 5:30-7:15 p.m. both days, is a two-part program which includes water aerobics designed to strengthen the body and lungs.
Each asthmatic attending will receive a free asthma management kit, including a peak flow meter and "Breathing Easy: Getting the most from your asthma medication" videotape. Program cost is $10. For information, call 537-5966, extension 311.
Peace institute offers doctoral fellowships
Three doctoral fellowships of $5,000 each are offered by Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy.Toda, which has a Honolulu branch, is seeking doctoral candidates with thesis proposals directly related to Toda's Human Security and Global Governance project.
Application deadline is July 1. For more information, visit the Toda Institute Web page at http://www.toda.org.
Applications should be sent to HUGG Fellows, Toda Institute, 1600 Kapiolani Blvd., Honolulu 96822; telephone 955-8231; fax 955-6476. E-mail: toda@toda.org.
Guardsmen honored for standoff assistance
Police Chief Lee Donohue presented Certificates of Merit and Letters of Appreciation yesterday to Hawaii National Guard members who aided police during a Pearl City hostage standoff in October.Maj. Alika Watts and Capt. Rusty Spray received Certificates of Merit. Letters of Appreciation went to Maj. Gen. Edward Richardson, Col. Vern Miyagi, Lt. Col. Gervin Miyamoto, Chief Warrant Officer Alfred Paulino, Master Sgt. Bert Ogasawara, Sgt. 1st Class Jerry Kikiloa, Sgt. 1st Class Francis Hapenney, Staff Sgt. Ray Resurrection and Specialist Lance Taufaasau.
Shortly after midnight Oct. 30, police requested National Guard assistance to safely transport residents and police in and out of Pacific Palisades.
Its sole entrance and exit road were closed because of an armed hostage situation on Waimano Home Road.
Armored vehicles eventually arrived by 3 a.m., and shuttles began in and out of Pacific Palisades in about 36 round trips, crossing the gunman's line of fire each time.
Local humane society fund-raiser planned
PetWalk '99, a benefit for the Hawaiian Humane Society, takes place June 6 at Kapiolani Park.The 2-mile stroll through the park -- with or without pets -- is followed by pet contests, prizes and a mini-mall of products and services for pets and owners.
Mayor Jeremy Harris and his wife, Ramona, will lead the walk starting at 8 a.m.
All walkers are asked to preregister and collect pledges. A minimum pledge of $25 is requested, and a variety of prizes are offered.
Registration forms may be picked up at the Humane Society, located at 2700 Waialae Ave. The society will mail forms to participants upon request. The forms also are available at island pet shops and veterinary offices.
Forms and pledges will be accepted until 8 a.m. the day of the event. For further information about PetWalk '99, call 946-2187, Ext. 225.
Correction
Three patients from Sunday's Sacred Falls accident were flown by the Army to Kuakini Medical Center. A story Tuesday said incorrectly that they were flown to another hospital.
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Police, Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffWahiawa boy arrested in reported knife threat
A Wahiawa Intermediate School boy was arrested yesterday morning for allegedly threatening another student with a knife.The suspect reportedly threatened the other boy in the restroom with the knife, asking if he wanted to die, police said.
The suspect was arrested for first-degree terroristic threatening 30 minutes later.
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